College Suicide Article in TIME

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>In the case of MIT, students aren't given a choice about whether to purchase the school's healthcare policy -- it's included in the cost of tuition.</p>

<p>Our healthplan coverage is pretty extensive: unlimited basic care, urgent care, mental health, gynecological care, and all diagnostic tests. We basically have a full-service hospital on campus, plus the option to extend our coverage to Mass General for emergencies.</p>

<p>I assume that the inclusion of mental health services was a result of the tragic series of suicides that took place in the mid-90s. Certainly there haven't been any recent suicides, so somebody's doing his or her job. :)</p>

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<p>
[quotes]
Kaavya should have been abandoned.
[/quotes]
</p>

<p>My thoughts exactly. </p>

<p>--</p>

<p>Am I the only one who feels that this paternalism that others request that colleges give is ridiculous? A student should be able to willing to realize the help that they've need and seek it themselves. Should a student who fails out of college proclaim that the college was unwilling to give it closely needed attention?</p>

<p>We pay 40k a year for an education, not babysitting. The college should not be held responsible for something the student have been responsible for. This is more the individual's fault rather than the colleges.</p>

<p>Am I the only one who feels this?</p>

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<p>I think colleges have a systemic problem: they are not healthy places for many students. Living conditions are often stressful (noisy, crowded) and there are few if any adults connecting with many college students outside of classrooms. I don't know the answers and think that this is not the cause of suicides...but I think many schools are taking the $40k and spending it more on recruitment than retaining and serving those on campus...</p>

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<p>
[quote]
but I think many schools are taking the $40k and spending it more on recruitment than retaining and serving those on campus...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>However, the students that apply each year should want the college for academic reasons. If the college does not spend the money on the recruitment, how can they possibly teach a class who does not understand the fundamentals that should have been learned in high school?</p>

<p>This is a perfect example of where the student should have chosen the match and not the trophy.</p>

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<p><<By adding such services to a healthcare policy you drive up the cost and fewer will buy it.<br>
Universities and colleges require all students be insured. The university insurance plan is offered as an alternative or supplement to parental or otherwise private insurance. Additionally, it is covered by financial aid as part of ones' cost of attendance. </p>

<p><<something to="" keep="" in="" mind="" before="" adding="" a="" christmas="" tree="" of="" benefits="" basic="" health="" policy.="">>
A "Christmas tree" implies that many irrelevant items/benefits/conditions have been tacked on to a given policy. In offering additional coverage in response to a specific, demonstrated, and documented public health problem, unis and colleges would be doing the exact opposite. Given the statistics--not just on suicide, but on the emergence of mental illness in early adulthood and the prevalence of mental illness on campuses--additional coverage for prescriptions and outpatient mental health care is an exceptionally relevant, targeted response.</something></p>

<p><<i think="" beyond="" basic="" physical="" health="" care="" and="" short-term="" mental="" help="" it's="" up="" to="" the="" parents="" step="" in.="">>
barrons, that statement is based on the faulty assumption that parents can afford to do so. In fact, many cannot. Furthermore, mental health parity laws vary from state to state. Finally, health insurance plans vary and may stop covering a child--even if that child is a full-time student--beyond a certain age. </i></p><i think="" beyond="" basic="" physical="" health="" care="" and="" short-term="" mental="" help="" it's="" up="" to="" the="" parents="" step="" in.="">

<p>In short, better coverage for mental illness is among the first steps a university or college can take in response to this crisis.</p>
</i>

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<p><< Am I the only one who feels that this paternalism that others request that colleges give is ridiculous?>>
I do not feel that "paternalism" was what was described. In light of a public health problem, colleges and universities need to develop a more comprehensive strategy in which all members of the community--because that is what a campus is--share responsibility for its greater health and well-being. How is this any different from other public health initiatives that campuses undertake? </p>

<p><<a student="" should="" be="" able="" to="" willing="" realize="" the="" help="" that="" they've="" need="" and="" seek="" it="" themselves.="">>
If the student has previously been diagnosed, then I agree, s/he bears a higher degree of responsibility for their condition and well-being. However, as I have said in previous posts, many serious mental illnesses do not emerge until late adolescence and early adulthood. With many mental illnesses, the patient is unable to realize the nature and severity of their condition--they have ceased to behave, think, and/or act rationally; they do not know that they are ill.</a></p><a student="" should="" be="" able="" to="" willing="" realize="" the="" help="" that="" they've="" need="" and="" seek="" it="" themselves.="">

<p><<we pay="" 40k="" a="" year="" for="" an="" education,="" not="" babysitting.="" the="" college="" should="" be="" held="" responsible="" something="" student="" have="" been="" for.="" this="" is="" more="" individual's="" fault="" rather="" than="" colleges.="">>
When a student develops bipolar disorder while away at school, are they morally culpable? If schizophrenia emerges for the first time during freshman year, do you blame the patient?
While I would concur that lawsuits are often an inappropriate response to student suicide, often there are a series of easily recognized red flags well before suicidal ideation or other psychotic behavior emerges. The involvement of the community is integral to recognizing, containing, and treating mental illness; as is the case with any other.</we></p>
</a>

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<p><< Our healthplan coverage is pretty extensive: unlimited basic care, urgent care, mental health, gynecological care, and all diagnostic tests. We basically have a full-service hospital on campus, plus the option to extend our coverage to Mass General for emergencies.>></p>

<p>That sounds great, molliebatmit. But you're forgetting that many plans also have benefit caps and other restrictions. It's impt to remember that a given healthcare plan may only cover so many therapist visits, or x amt of dollars in prescriptions. This can lead to discontinuities in care or otherwise inadequate care for students. I'm not sure what the case is w. MIT, but I know that this is common with many healthcare plans.</p>

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<p>Oh, it really is totally covered, so long as you're going to a mental health practicioner at MIT Medical (there are 31). Prescription drugs are partially covered, but there's a copay. Such is the way of the world, I suppose.</p>

<p>Haha, of course, two things to keep in mind:
1. I believe they did implement much more sweeping access to mental health resources as a direct result of student suicides in the 90s. They weren't just being warm and fuzzy; they were trying to protect themselves from lawsuits and bad publicity.
2. We pay a good chunk of change to go to MIT, so "free" is of course sort of an interesting way for me to describe our health plan.</p>

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<p>The body of a Columbia University senior was just found in the East River. He left his dorm on Sunday night before finals week. Neither his suitemates or his family (who lived nearby) reported him missing until Tuesday, at which point campus security looked at his computer and saw he looked up directions to the Brooklyn Bridge. This student seemed to be doing all right in his work as a computer science major, but he also seemed to have been very isolated. In the days when people were searching for him, his family made a statement but there did not seem to be friends talking about him. My son looked him up on the Facebook when posters first went up, and found he had only three "friends", which is another indication of isolation. Those who knew the student by name commented that he always had a smile on his face. </p>

<p>I couldn't bring up the Time Magazine article to see whether it mentioned Columbia, though it was mentioned in a NYT article earlier this year for forcing a student with mental health problems to take a year off. I do know that Columbia established more mental health services a few years ago. There is a counseling center satellite office in the first year dorm, there are hotlines, RAs are trained to report any suicide threat, and if such a threat is reported, security immediately brings a student in for evaluation. But it strikes me that seniors, who are more likely to live in apartment style situations, sometimes with fellow students who may not be friends, may not find as many people reaching out to them. This young man must have been in real pain for quite a while, but he seems to have hidden it and no one knew him well enough at school to read the signs.</p>

<p>Does anybody know how common it is for students to commit suicide right before graduating?</p>

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<p><We pay 40k a year for an education, not babysitting. The college should not be held responsible for something the student have been responsible for. This is more the individual's fault rather than the colleges.</p>

<p>Am I the only one who feels this?></p>

<p>I feel that it is not 100% school's or student's fault. Both can and do contribute to the occurrence of suicide. </p>

<p>Please remember that people often do not realize they need help. When one is feeling suicidal, suicide is what feels right, not getting help. Are you very much responsible for you own biochemistry leading you astray? No, because you have very little control over it. But there is no one that can help you better than yourself. There is no one to say anything if you feel something is wrong - so yes, indeed it is up to students to go and seek help. It is their responsibility to try to keep their lives in check.</p>

<p>Schools, on the other hand, can contribute to fostering an unfriendly and competitive environment, where students feel they must demonstrate they are happy, successful, surrounded by friends (or die). Schools can do a lot about the settings these suicidal students find themselves in as to decrease the unhappiness these students experience. For example, to decrease isolation, courses can be designed to make students work in groups more. There can be workshops that educate students on the prevalence of affective and personality disorders so that no one feels like "i'm the only one struggling with this here". People who sit in academic advising offices can be reminded to be more friendly; TAs can be cautioned to be less overbearing. Many different things can be done. Should the schools be striving to foster the best environment for their students? Naturally yes, because students will perform better academically. Because you pay 40k for education each year. But does education only entail sitting in lecture, taking notes while professor scribbles something on the board? I think the environment of the school has a lot to do with learning.</p>

<p>Of course, if you have bipolar disorder, then settings do not matter that much in terms of you feeling depressed. But not every suicide attempt will come from someone who is diagnosed with something as severe.</p>

<p>Schools also sometimes engage in false advertising as far as their support programs go. They show off their free counseling services, number of various support groups they have, but then hire the worst psychologists out there, who just prescribe anti-depressants left and right unable to diagnose correctly even the most simple cases. I think schools have a responsibility to make sure that if they claim they have all these support programs available to students, that they keep those on a decent level and spend enough money on them. That they are not just there, but they also work.</p>

<p><should a="" student="" who="" fails="" out="" of="" college="" proclaim="" that="" the="" was="" unwilling="" to="" give="" it="" closely="" needed="" attention?=""></should></p>

<p>Not all these students fail academically (academics is what you pay those 40k for, right?). So why should they be expelled, dismissed, forced to take academic leave? It is not like all depressed and emotionally distraught students just get by from one C to another C until one semester they decide they cannot do it anymore. Some of these kids are overachievers, get straight A's, are very bright in their frields. So if one of these kids comes and says one bright shinny day "i need some professional help, i have suicidal thoughts" should the school threaten to expel or dismiss him or her? What about those 40k the kid's parents paid?</p>

<p>by the way, does anyone know what is the average suicide rate at universities?</p>

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<p>One of my daughter's friends has been treated through her entire time at school. Before starting college her parents set up a support system and regularly visit. I have no doubt that their visits are not just social - they are checking up. </p>

<p>I don't care how much I wanted my daughter to be "better", if she were being treated for anything before attending college (and a good number of these children are), she would be attending a school where I could regularly visit to eye-ball her and also make sure that her support system was still functioning well. There is no sure fire way to supervise a young adult and kids slip through the cracks but why is there no mention of the parents of these kids?</p>

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<p>At what point does the student's health become the student's responsibility, and not someone else's? What will these students do when they grow up, no longer have parents or a campus to support them, and have to deal with such problems on their own? One would hope that their friends or family or employer would assist them, but this may not be the case, and then what?</p>

<p>Help should be available for those who need it, but a college is not a parent and should not be treated as such. It is in the interest of the college to promote mental health on campus and deal with such problems as suicide; however, a college is primarily a school, and if a student (for whatever reason) is unable to effectively pursue an education, the college should not be required to maintain that student. </p>

<p>Also, there's only so much a college can do to predict or prevent suicide. Such indicators as missing class or "risky or erratic behavior", as mentioned earlier, are not uncommon among students at all levels of mental health. A student may skip class, refuse to do assignments, or drink and party because of sheer laziness or apathy, rather than any underlying condition. </p>

<p>I do agree with kihyle that the atmosphere of competition that (especially selective) colleges foster is unhealthy and can contribute to mental problems with students. However, better mental health care (in the form of counselling, medication, et cetera) isn't going to fix the underlying problem. Only a change in the nature of the college admission and attendance world would accomplish that- and is that even possible?</p>

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<p>Kihyle says:</p>

<p>"They show off their free counseling services, number of various support groups they have, but then hire the worst psychologists out there, who just prescribe anti-depressants left and right unable to diagnose correctly even the most simple cases."</p>

<p>The psychologist at my college was useless. A poor friend with an eating disorder was told that her bulimia was a symptom of sexual repression and so she should, well, you know. And that solution, even if it had had the slightest merit, would have been out of the question for her since it conflicted with her moral and religious beliefs. No other suggestions or referrals were made.</p>

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<p>As a registered nurse I have a few comments about this topic. </p>

<p>Pip-pip seems to have pretty good grasp on the emergence of mental health problems in the college age group as well as the fact that there is often no self-awareness of the problem. I would like to add that often treatment regimens, especially medications, are a bit of a trial and error. It takes time to work out what is most effective. </p>

<p>Elleneast mentions an effective support system set up by the FAMILY, not necessarily the school. My experience with college searching has been that many colleges are proud of the fact that they work only with the student (they're a legal adult) and won't disclose or work directly with the parent. Others make it a priority to work with the parent and have contracts that kids can sign to allow disclosure. We like the latter approach. Our kids do need a support system and the schools often cannot be the sole provider. After all, we know our kids best. We need to work as a team.</p>

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<p>I saw a link recently to a ESPN mag. story detailing the suicide of a Penn football player. He took his life last fall despite having, to all outward appearances, a successful, wonderful, friend-filled life. It was a heart-breaking story.</p>

<p>Mental illness or depression seems to be very hard to "predict" and equally hard to treat successfully because it depends on how much the sufferer is willing to participate in the treatment.</p>

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<p><<at what="" point="" does="" the="" student's="" health="" become="" responsibility,="" and="" not="" someone="" else's?="">>
The second they learn that they have an illness. Once they know what is wrong with them, then they can begin to take responsibility for their care. </at></p>

<p>The frequency of "stress" and "competition" alone driving students (or anyone else, for that matter) to suicide is exceptionally low. Often, there is a history of depression, or a serious mental illness. And there are some exceptionally bright people at top schools with such conditions. </p>

<p>The suicide or other psychotic behavior is often preceded by aforementioned behavioral changes and indicators. gonewithfergus, the issue here is not when a lazy student misses class, it's when a previously motivated and diligent one does. If one phone call from a TA to see what's up can help point a student in the direction of seeking help, I think that's a small price to pay.</p>

<p>A large reason why students who realize something is wrong do not seek help is because mental illness still faces a tremendous stigma. Just look at some of the comments on this board: schizophrenia can be "faked" (after all, it's not like your quadraplegic), it's the "individual's fault", ppl who demonstrate indicators of mental illness are just "lazy and apathetic", and it's surprising that people who "seem normal" commit suicide. Just last week, a columnist at my school's paper lambasted those with mental illness as "social and emotional cripples". Is there any wonder why students would be hesitant to admit they need help and alert others (yes, even their parents) to what they are experiencing?</p>

<p>Colleges aren't parents. But every single individual there is part of a community. When a community faces a public health problem, each individual there must take prevention measures. Students who are aware of their condition hold primary responsibility for their care--in that case, the campus community should simply have adequate resources for treatment available--but when students are unaware of their illness, that is when the previously described prevention mechanisms are applicable and useful.</p>

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<p>Irishbird,</p>

<p>What made that story particularly sad was that, outward appearances aside, the student was suffering from depression. His family knew of his problem. I assume he was in treatment.</p>

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<p>I agree that Cornell did look a little heartless by not following up, but I think they actually have a pretty good suicide prevention program. See here for details:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/downloads/campusIniatives/mentalhealth/JoffeSuicidePrev042004.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/downloads/campusIniatives/mentalhealth/JoffeSuicidePrev042004.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>As you'll see the document delves into competing theories as to what "causes" college age suicide.</p>

<p>As for Cornell being a "pressure cooker" and having an above average suicide rate, I believe that you'll find that this is more myth than substance:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Cornell University is one peer institution that does maintain moderately complete records of their student deaths in response to a common perception that they have a high suicide rate. Cornell had eight students take their own lives in the past ten years. With about 19,000 students on campus, Cornell has a suicide rate of about 4.3 per 100,000 student years for that time period, far below both MIT and national rates

[/quote]
</p>

<p>here's the source article: <a href="http://www-tech.mit.edu/V120/N6/comp6.6n.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www-tech.mit.edu/V120/N6/comp6.6n.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>here's some more on the Cornell Suicide Myth:</p>

<p>
[quote]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 9 - - May 2, 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</p>

<p>Dear Uncle Ezra,
For years i've been told about cornell's infamous "suicides", and how our "suicide rate" was the highest in the nation. is there any evidence to lend credence to this? for example, how many people have taken their lives in the last two years? (if you consider any part of this query to be in bad taste, or disrespectful, then please don't respond.) </p>

<pre><code> Unsigned
</code></pre>

<p>Dear Respectful,
Thank you for your kind consideration; however, I'm pleased to answer your question. It provides an opportunity to once again underscore that evidence does NOT support the rumors you've heard for years.
I hope you read (or will read) Q15 in the 4/20/2000 "Dear Uncle
Ezra" posting, which explains that our suicide rate over the complete ten-year period 1990 to 1999 was nine suicides among enrolled students on our Ithaca campus -- five undergrads and four graduate students. In the last two years, there have been three (one in '99, two in '98).
Since a national study predicts that a college campus our size would have two suicides a year, we are BELOW the average. Another national study reports that college students commit suicide at about half the rate of non-students their age. A campus apparently is not the most depressing place to be!
Statistics only go so far, since not all suicides get reported. There are many ambiguous cases which are reported as accidents rather than suicide (see the previous letter, for instance). If a student has a fatal car crash driving while intoxicated, it can be hard to draw the line about how accidental it was. Also, if a student commits suicide at home, the family sometimes does not want it publicized and reports the death as an accident.
An October 1987 story from the CORNELL ALUMNI NEWS (not CORNELL MAGAZINE) explores why Cornell's suicide myth takes on a reality independent of the facts. Nina Miller, former director of the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, writes:
"What, then, is the source of the myth? ...A number of the suicides which occur in local gorges are not Cornell students. They are people who either live in the community, or in some cases travel to use the renowned bridges to end their lives. Yet the belief remains that when there is a gorge death, it is always a Cornell student.
"Another factor in the mythology of suicide at Cornell is the media... I spoke to one national television correspondent who stated that while it was true that the University of Colorado had experienced an even greater rash of student suicides during the same period, the station had chosen to televise our situation because 'Cornell is closer, and besides, the gorges photograph so well.'
"...Mythology keeps the issue of suicide in front of people through local parlance such as 'gorging out' and creates additional stress for those who may suffer periods of depression. There is some notion that students arriving at the university are models of mental health and get 'zapped' by the environment, the academic pressure, the sexual and other social freedoms which are part of their new world.
"In fact, if Cornell students are typical, approximately one in four arrives having survived the turmoil of parental divorce. Most have been sexually active since high school. Most will have tried alcohol and marijuana; a somewhat smaller number will have experimented with harder drugs..."
That's not to say that Cornell's rigorous competitive atmosphere doesn't play a part in depression on campus. The academic stresses here -- coupled with the personal stresses students face from home, from campus relationships, and from the difficulty of trying to decide their life course -- do make the college years an extremely challenging time for many students. That's why we have such a strong network of interrelated psychological and academic support services.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>source: <a href="http://ezra.cornell.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ezra.cornell.edu/&lt;/a>
use search engine to find more responses on "suicide"</p>

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<p>The GFG: Did your friend recover while retaining her moral values? And more importantly, were you at a college affiliated with any form of religion?</p>

<p>And to everyone...I will second the notion that college counselors are a joke. The one at Mount Union told me to get drunk and to change my personality completely. I blew her off...</p>

<p>"You should never try to change me, I can be nobody else...and I like the way I am!!!"</p>

<p>She was one of the reasons I left. It was sickening to think part of my tuition went to support clowns like her.</p>